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When I hear "a sniffle and a sneeze" coming from one of my kids, my brain starts to spin with questions about what action if any I should take in regards to the sounds/signs their body is making.

"Is Violet getting sick or did she just inhale a bit of something that is making her sneeze?"

"Nyssa has coughed five times this morning, how is she doing?"

I try not to be an alarmist because I know the innate vitally of my kids is strong and that they will be fine. And further, that sometimes, we need to be sick. We need a break and that is ok too.

Everyone has their own protocol for how to help their sick kid. For my family I do try to catch things early if I can. I have a general idea of what my kids' normal is.... how does their tongue normally look? Are their eye's sparkly and their cheeks rosy? What does the temperature of their skin usually feel like when they wake up? I pay attention as best I can and when things begin to look/feel a bit off, I take measures to help them right away and I start to give my kids things from the following list. This is my first line of defense for my kids. If a cold or flu settles in we move on to other remedies.

Here is what I have found works well for my kids and my family.

Elderberry Syrup ~ Click Here to learn all about elderberry and how to use it.

Catnip Tea ~ When my kids need catnip tea, they suck it down like soda pop. Great right before bed to aid sleep and fight infections. Brew one tablespoon in a big cup of just boiled water for 10 minutes. You might want to sweeten it with honey or agave.

St. John's Wort/ Lemon Balm Tea ~ Blend together a small handful of each, cover with just boiled water and steep for at least 20 minutes. These herbs are great antivirals and relaxants. My girls have their own little personal tea pots and they love having a special pot all brewed up just for them when they are feeling crummy.

Umcka ~ I found this product recently. All I can say, is that it really works! My kids love the taste of the syrup so it is really easy to give it to them.

Vitamin D ~ Wonderful for prevention during the winter months. Check out this video from one of my amazing teachers, Paul Bergner, for info about using vitamin D.

Essential Oils ~ Lavender & Spearmint for kids age 2 to 6 years with the addition of Ravensara & Eucalyptus for older kids. Use any of these in the bath and in a humidifier, are great. But my favorite thing to do is to dilute a couple of drops of essential oil in a generous teaspoon of carrier oil and use this mixture to give my child (or myself) a nice firm foot massage before bed. Follow up with snuggly socks and sweet dreams.

Increase Liquids ~ Lots and lots, really anything they will drink as long as it is not sugary, though I will give them diluted juice, if that is all they will drink

Hot Apple Cider ~ Speaking of juice... I make this with diluted apple juice, cinnamon chips and fresh ginger. I just combine about a cup of juice, a cup of water, up to an inch or so of chopped ginger and a tablespoon of cinnamon chips in a pan. Simmer for at least 20 minutes and serve. Warming, immunostimulating and yummy!

Oscillococcinum ~ for flu exposure. My homeopathic doctor friend told me that taking a third of the tube through out the day is the best way to take it rather then taking the whole remedy at once.

Eliminate ~ refined sugar, dairy, and citrus.

Promote Rest

Love ~ the most important part!

For Parents ~ Raw Garlic is great. I mince it up with a bit of salt and add it to whatever we are eating or putting it on a piece of toast with olive oil. Everything else above is great for mom and dad too.

Note ~ There are a lot of wonderful products on the market for helping us to stay healthy. When the above measures don't stop illness in its tracks, I move on to Wish Garden Herbs formulations, they have some wonderful formulations for both kids and adults. All of their products are amazing. I have tried many for myself, my kids and recommended them often with consistent wonderful feedback. My favorites for kids are their Ear Combo for ear infections. I keep this one on hand. It is really effective and helpful when you are awakened in the middle of the night by a kid in pain. Also, their Kick-It products and Cold Season Symptoms are wonderful. I had many parents give me rave reviews about the Cold Season remedy when I worked retail.

What do you do to keep yourself and your family healthy? I am always looking for great tips and suggestions!